Shelbi’s eyes stared at the pen and paper in her hands. She was preparing to take a customer’s order, but they wouldn’t speed their thinking process up. So, knowing exactly what her boss would do if she does otherwise, she stands still and waits. Patiently, but annoyed only because she knew she couldn’t do one little thing about it.

She glances down at her waist apron, making sure she had enough straws in the pocket. She knew she would have more people later on in the night. She worked at a very good Mexican place here in Memphis, obviously where she lives.

She finds herself accidentally releasing a sigh. She gulps gently, hoping she wouldn’t upset the woman like she had done to another last week. ‘’Just, give me a minute. I’m not ready.’’ The woman says just after Shelbi’s gulp had went to silence and was over with.

‘’Yes, mam.’’ She mumbles before putting her hands down and walking back to the counter. Her close friend, her best friend actually, Alexis, stands behind the counter. She had just printed out a customer’s receipt and have given it to them.

‘’Stressful day?’’ Alexis asks, raising her eyebrows as she watches Shelbi prop her elbows on the counter. Shelbi was glad the counter was short, because she was short. She was only five foot three. That isn’t that tall, but she didn’t care. She just happened to always be confused on how she was so short, but her dad is six foot three. But yet, she didn’t talk about it aloud to anyone.

‘’What do you think?’’ Shelbi sighs. ‘’Mine’s not too good either, Boo. But trust me.. its almost over.’’ Alexis sighs out too. ‘’For you, not for me..’’ Shelbi huffs. ‘’And why’s that? Ugh, Shelly.. did you take another double shift?’’ Alexis answers her question before Shelbi could comprehend it.

She looks up at Alexis with a sigh, ‘’I have to have money, Lexi.’’ She mumbles. ‘’You know your dad’s gonna be mad. You’re never at home..’’ Alexis reminds her. ‘’My dad can get over it.. Besides, his stupid friends are coming over tonight anyways, to watch a game..’’ Shelbi says, remembering that it was Friday.

‘’I hate August.. I hate football season.. my brother’s idiot friends from college come over all the time.. Ugh.’’ Alexis rolls her eyes to her comment concerning her brother. ‘’Yeah, me too..’’ Shelbi nods lightly, completely agreeing with her.

“But anyways.. another shift? You’ve been taking doubles for two weeks straight.’’ Alexis says sternly. ‘’Well, Alexis.. unlike you I don’t have a mother, two sisters, and a brother to help with the bills okay. Its just me and my dad.. and its hard.’’ Shelbi says, moving her elbows as she stands straight.

‘’C’mon Shell.. Don’t give me that crap. Your dad has a good job. And you don’t need to work yourself. You’ve had the same job since tenth grade. Its not like you’ve never worked a day in your life.’’ Alexis fires back, but still trying to get Shelbi to see the point in this conversation.

‘’Its my life.. Lexi.. My life.’’ She mumbles back with a sigh. ‘’I’m your best friend, so its my life too..’’ Alexis corrects her. ‘’I have a customer waiting..’’ Shelbi sighs out as she realizes this conversation will get them on where. Even as Alexis protests, Shelbi walks away..

***

It was going on 1 a.m. when Shelbi walked through the front door of her house. Her dad was sitting on the couch, and the sound of the door shutting relieved him once again. ‘’Shelbi Blaine Tackett, where on God’s earth have you been?’’ Her father runs into the foyer.

‘’At work.. I sent you a text.’’ She mumbles as she walks past him and makes her way into the kitchen. ‘’A text? What am I, Shelbi, fourteen? I’m your father, not your friend. You don’t text me. You’re supposed to call when you work late.’’ He says sternly.

She turns around and sighs as she looks up at him, very high up. ‘’Dad.. I’m fine. Okay. I’m here aren’t I?’’ She asks sarcastically. ‘’Shelbi.. this better not happen again, do you understand me?’’ He asks. ‘’Yeah, whatever.’’ She sighs out as she walks past him towards the stair case.

‘’Once again, I’m not your friend. I’m your father.’’ He says, raising his voice a little. Shelbi, annoyed and tired, turns around and looks at him from the third step. ‘’Yes. Sir.’’ She says through gritted teeth before making her way up to her room.

Shelbi quickly goes into her room, shutting the door behind her. She sits on her bed and picks up the picture frame that sits on her bedside table. Underneath the painted wooden frame was a picture. A picture that she cherished with all of her heart. It was her mother and her little brother.

She didn’t talk about it much. Not even to her father, rarely to herself even. Her mother and her little brother, Jacob, were killed in a car accident. Shelbi and her father were also involved, but were only injured.

The two cars collided. The total accident took four lives away from the world. Shelbi’s mother Vanessa, her little brother Jacob, who was only five years old at the time, and the other two victims were in the other car.

Jacob and Shelbi were eight years apart. She was only thirteen when it happened. It wasn’t just the fact that they had lost Vanessa and Jacob that worried them throughout the years, but Vanessa and Cameron were expecting.

She was six months pregnant with a baby boy. They had been planning to name him William Reese. But unfortunately, the baby was also lost in the accident.

That was the only reason Shelbi’s father never tried to move on from his wife. He never planned on getting remarried, or dating again, or anything like that. His heart was set for one woman, and one woman only. And he assures himself he will see her again someday.

That event impacted Shelbi’s life extremely. She began thinking suicidal thoughts, despite her good life before. She wasn’t herself any more. Alexis and Cameron both noticed this. But Alexis knew she could never fully relate to Shelbi after this.

Their lives were able to be compared. But now, they are able to be contrasted. However, her father has determined himself to give Shelbi the best life he could. The only regret he has.. was that he wasn’t paying attention to the road…

Shelbi sits the picture back down after staring at it for a few moments. She lies back in her bed as she turns the lamp off. She stars up at the ceiling. Like every night, she smiles as she looks up at the glow in the dark stars her mother had put up years and years ago. Long before Jacob was thought of.

‘’G’night Mom.. g’night Jacob.. g’night Will..’’ She whispers like always. She rolls over so that she was facing the wall, one side of her bed was up against a wall. The upper corner, where the mattress corner meets the headboard, was in a corner.
“G’night dad.’’ She mumbles softly. With a sigh, she closes her eyes and tries her best to fall asleep…

Notes

Hey guys, so I hope the intro is okay?? Well, please COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS! I'd love to know them and to see if this is a good start or not. I hope you got enough detail about Shelbi for now, but thanks for reading! Love ya! Please comment, rate, and subscribe if you like!! Once again, thanks!! You're all beautiful!! xx